I like your barnacle analogy for the idea of building layers of incomprehension when reading. I first became aware of it when reading works in French which I had not read in English first. The tendency to grind to a halt after a number of pages As the level of incomprehension or ignorance of vocabulary just meant needing to explore some of the words in a dictionary Which I prefer not to do when reading a foreign language As the dictionary becomes a safety blanket that I certainly end up hugging.
Milton's paraphrases of the Psalms are some of my favorite poems. It's a shame they do not get as much attention as Paradise Lost. I think his versions (what few he paraphrased) are better than the King James version.
7:05 you describe my entire reading history lmao! A lot of books do not have enough annotations for me: I get that vague feeling of non-comprehension right away and it only gets worse!!!
Very surprised to hear that you, an American, support embattled British monarchy! In my opinion, Charles losing his head was a big improvement for UK governance 😊 Milton ended up as a rebel too - I don’t think he completely reconciled to Charles II, who wisely chose not to persecute a celebrated writer. Paradise Lost is absolutely epic. Christopher Ricks wrote an amazing book on Milton’s use of language. I still have my university edition of the poem, and an edition with Gustave Doré’s wonderful illustrations.
I love Paradise Lost! I’m reading a few works by John Milton for maybe midrash - Paradise Regained and Samson Agonistes. Wanted to fill out my reading of Milton! I’ll read the other major poem soon.
Did Paradise Lost , penguins version , has Gustave Doré ‘s illustrations? I try to find the paperback version that has his illustrations and idk which version or publisher has. So if you can suggest me one that would be great!
I tried reading Paradise Lost four times and never made it past book VIII because there just seemed to be a drop off after the debate in hell in the early books. I finally read it in its entirety, aloud, to my first daughter. Samson Agonistes was a much easier, though less rewarding, read. I read a biographical essay on Milton in college, and it was a sarcastic appraisal from the 1930s that just snapped away at him. The author really went after his arrogance on the book of Job being a “rough model” for Milton’s early attempts at epic.
So much the rather thou Celestial Light Shine inward, and the mind through all powers Irradiate, there plant eyes, all mist from thence Purge and disperse, that I may see and tell Of things invisible to mortal sight.
That first Milton cover looks like its from the 1700's. Also, Milton was able to rabble-rouse? I thought he was too high falutin' to make blood boil even back then?
How poetry is thought in schools is, I swear, designed to torture the students. Poetry is supposed to be beautiful to the reader, all that potential beauty is stripped off by forcing students to analyze it cruelly. Converting it to everyday, ordinary common language - the opposite of its objectives.
Steve-O, I find Milton's poetry in PL hypnotizing.. Makes my spine tingle.
I just found ur channel! I am really liking it
I like your barnacle analogy for the idea of building layers of incomprehension when reading.
I first became aware of it when reading works in French which I had not read in English first.
The tendency to grind to a halt after a number of pages
As the level of incomprehension or ignorance of vocabulary just meant needing to explore some of the words in a dictionary
Which I prefer not to do when reading a foreign language
As the dictionary becomes a safety blanket that I certainly end up hugging.
Milton's paraphrases of the Psalms are some of my favorite poems. It's a shame they do not get as much attention as Paradise Lost. I think his versions (what few he paraphrased) are better than the King James version.
Can’t wait to see what mysterious selection the shelves have in store for us tomorrow!
We do have a Penguin with all of Milton’s Poetical Works! I prefer the Oxford Classics version though
7:05 you describe my entire reading history lmao! A lot of books do not have enough annotations for me: I get that vague feeling of non-comprehension right away and it only gets worse!!!
Very surprised to hear that you, an American, support embattled British monarchy! In my opinion, Charles losing his head was a big improvement for UK governance 😊
Milton ended up as a rebel too - I don’t think he completely reconciled to Charles II, who wisely chose not to persecute a celebrated writer.
Paradise Lost is absolutely epic. Christopher Ricks wrote an amazing book on Milton’s use of language. I still have my university edition of the poem, and an edition with Gustave Doré’s wonderful illustrations.
I love Paradise Lost! I’m reading a few works by John Milton for maybe midrash - Paradise Regained and Samson Agonistes. Wanted to fill out my reading of Milton! I’ll read the other major poem soon.
Penguin does a 1000-page Complete Poems of Milton, luckily!
Did Paradise Lost , penguins version , has Gustave Doré ‘s illustrations? I try to find the paperback version that has his illustrations and idk which version or publisher has. So if you can suggest me one that would be great!
I tried reading Paradise Lost four times and never made it past book VIII because there just seemed to be a drop off after the debate in hell in the early books. I finally read it in its entirety, aloud, to my first daughter. Samson Agonistes was a much easier, though less rewarding, read.
I read a biographical essay on Milton in college, and it was a sarcastic appraisal from the 1930s that just snapped away at him. The author really went after his arrogance on the book of Job being a “rough model” for Milton’s early attempts at epic.
Penguin do publish a complete edition of English Milton's poetry, I believe.
I'm so looking forward to you're review of Poet of Revolution : The Making of John Milton by Nicholas McDowell.
Alas the price of disobedience
Alas that heavy costly price
For the price of disobedience, alas
Is the loss of dear old paradise!
“Eyeless in Gaza, at the mill with the slaves...”
So much the rather thou Celestial Light
Shine inward, and the mind through all powers
Irradiate, there plant eyes, all mist from thence
Purge and disperse, that I may see and tell
Of things invisible to mortal sight.
That first Milton cover looks like its from the 1700's. Also, Milton was able to rabble-rouse? I thought he was too high falutin' to make blood boil even back then?
How poetry is thought in schools is, I swear, designed to torture the students. Poetry is supposed to be beautiful to the reader, all that potential beauty is stripped off by forcing students to analyze it cruelly. Converting it to everyday, ordinary common language - the opposite of its objectives.